MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE. gl 



and right direction of human life. The three grand 

 divisions into which he distributed it were, 1 st, Theo- 

 retic ; 2d, Efficient ; 3d, Practical ; including under 

 the first, Physics, Mathematics, and Theology or Me- 

 taphysics ; under the second, Rhetoric, Poetics, and 

 Logic or Dialectics, comprehending what are com- 

 monly termed the liberal arts ; under the third, Poli- 

 tics and Ethics, or the moral sciences. 



Ths Ethics of Aristotle, as we already observed, 

 display a wonderful degree of moral knowledge, 

 and practical experience of mankind. Though 

 composed amidst the darkness of heathen supersti- 

 tion, they abound with pure and just sentiments ; 

 and instead of depressing man to the low standard 

 of manners and opinions then existing, they tend to 

 elevate him to that perfection which a higher autho- 

 rity has pronounced to be an indispensable element 

 iu the Christian character. They are directed, no 

 doubt, solely to the improvement of man in tliis pre- 

 sent life ; but so sound are the principles of conduct 

 laid down, that they may be readily extended to those 

 nobler views of our nature and destiny opened up 

 to us in the inspired volume. To us who live in 

 the sunshine of revelation, it may be difficult fully, 

 to appreciate the reach of thought it required in 

 those times to see the science of ethics in its proper 

 light, as a refinement of human character in order 

 to human happiness. Yet to this merit the Stagp- 

 rite is fairly entitled ; and no greater praise can be 

 given tc a writer of heathen morality than to say 

 F 



